Dr. Kathleen Watland selected as dean of Indiana Tech’s College of Business

Indiana Tech is pleased to announce that Dr. Kathleen Hanold Watland has been hired as dean of its College of Business. Please welcome her when she begins her new role at Indiana Tech on July 1, 2017.

Dr. Watland comes to Indiana Tech from Chicago’s Saint Xavier University, where she was associate dean, associate professor and director of the Graham School of Management Graduate Programs for the Chicago Police Department. She earned her undergraduate degree from University of Illinois, Champaign, and a master’s degree from Purdue University. Kate earned her doctorate from Loyola University, Chicago, specializing in employee and training development, organizational development and change management.

“I am so very impressed with every member of the Indiana Tech community – from the students, to the faculty, to the administrators,” Dr. Watland said. “I had the privilege of meeting a small group of students on a Saturday morning earlier this year. In my brief conversations with them, their intelligence, industriousness and engagement were evident. They described the many positive experiences they have had at Indiana Tech. Similarly, in each of my conversations with faculty, I was impressed with their clear commitment to student success, both in the classroom and beyond.”

Dr. Watland’s research interests include leadership development, management education and employee development. She has presented her research both nationally and internationally; her most recent publication, Say “Yes and” to Students Learning Teamwork! Using Improv in the College Classroom to Build Teamwork Skills, focuses on building teamwork skills in a management education program.

“Dr. Watland is collaborative with her colleagues, transparent in her decision-making and enthusiastic about her work,” said Indiana Tech Vice President for Academic Affairs John Shannon. “She brings vast experience working with business students in innovative and entrepreneurial endeavors, and we look forward to her future contributions to the College of Business at Indiana Tech.”

“One of the reasons I accepted the position is because there is a great deal of alignment between my values and those already displayed at Indiana Tech. I do hope to be able to support the faculty and staff in their goals for continuing to serve the students,” Dr. Watland said. “There is so much talent there and I want to help them continue to shine. They are focused on preparing students for leadership roles and to live lives of ‘significance and worth.’ That truly resonates with me and I want to contribute to that.”